Slovak cyclist Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) has opted out of this Sunday's Tour of Flanders. He has decided to prioritize medical testing to diagnose the cause of his recent struggles in the Spring Classics. Following this, the TotalEnergies rider will participate in the Circuit de la Sarthe – Pays de la Loire, a 2.1 rated UCI Europe Tour race held in central France from April 5th to 8th. The goal is for the daily competition to help him shake off his current slump and find his peak condition before heading into the Amstel Gold Race and Paris-Roubaix.
Sagan has returned to his residence in Monaco for a series of medical exams and blood tests. He will not be participating in the Dwars door Vlaanderen starting tomorrow. His team, TotalEnergies, hopes these tests will clarify if his lack of form stems from missed pre-season training or if he is dealing with a specific illness, including potential long-term effects from a second bout of COVID-19.
Having contracted COVID-19 for a second time in January, Sagan missed a critical window of his pre-season preparation. Despite this, he seemed to be regaining his strength recently, securing a fourth-place sprint finish in Sovicille and a fifth-place finish at Milano-Torino, though a mechanical failure hindered his performance at Milan-San Remo.
His recent form has been inconsistent, finishing 68th at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic and struggling significantly at Gent-Wevelgem. While Sagan had entered both races feeling optimistic about his role, he found himself lacking the necessary power and energy during the critical phases of the competition, despite not feeling actively sick.
Geoffrey Soupe will step in for Sagan at the Tour of Flanders. The 34-year-old Frenchman, who serves as a dependable teammate to Anthony Turgis, is currently in great form, having recently placed second at Milan-San Remo and 13th at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic.
Peter Sagan acknowledged that the expectations for him to win have intensified recently. However, the 2018 UCI Mountain champion insists that he doesn't let external pressure get to him, noting that while others are free to share their opinions and facts, it doesn't affect his inner drive.